Comparison Between Early and Standard Oral Feeding After Emergency Bowel Surgery

Abstract

Background: Postoperative nutritional management plays a crucial role in patient recovery following emergency bowel surgery. Traditionally, oral feeding has been delayed to prevent complications like anastomotic leakage and ileus (standard oral feeding, SOF). However, recent studies suggest that early oral feeding (EOF) may enhance recovery and reduce hospital stay.
Aim: This research intended to associate results of early oral feeding versus standard oral feeding after emergency bowel surgery in terms of tolerance, recovery, complications, and hospital stay duration.
Methods: This randomized controlled study was held at Department of General Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, from September 2024 to February 2025.
A total of 160 patients who underwent emergency bowel surgery were included and divided into two groups: EOF (within 24 hours post-surgery) and SOF (after 48 hours or later). Outcomes such as time to first bowel movement, length of hospital stay, incidence of complications and overall patient tolerance were recorded and analyzed using statistical software.
Results: Individuals in EOF group demonstrated very meaningfully shorter time to first bowel movement compared to SOF group (p<0.05). The length of hospital stay was also reduced in EOF group (mean: 5.2±1.3 days) compared to the SOF group (mean: 7.8±1.7 days). There was not any substantial rise in postoperative problems including anastomotic leakage and ileus among two groups. Additionally, patient satisfaction and tolerance to oral intake were higher in the EOF group.
Conclusion: Early oral feeding following emergency bowel surgery was associated with faster recovery, reduced hospital stay without any substantial rise in complications compared to standard oral feeding. These findings support the adoption of EOF as a safe and effective postoperative nutritional strategy.